Before you buy ready to use aloe vera gel preparations check for purity and concentration of vital ingredients. Aloe vera or aloe barbadensis is a succulent plant proliferating in Africa, Asia, Europe and Americas. Aloe vera flourishes in warm sunny climates, needs minimum watering and has thick leaves with spines. The Aloe vera leaves contain a number of components, from 150 to 200, that have wide ranging effects on the human body. The leaves are the source of these beneficial compounds. Just next to the skin on the inside is the aloe latex layer that has a laxative effect. This also contains the important anthraquinones. The middle portion has a gel and is the most beneficial part. Since ancient times man has known the beneficial properties of aloe vera gel. Aloe vera gel finds extensive use externally and internally as medicine, tonic and rejuvenator.

50 Aloe Vera Gel Benefits & Uses

The ancient Indian system of holistic health, terms aloe as “Kumari” or Ghrut and there are a number of recipes for a variety of illnesses. The inner sticky, transparent gel like substance has a number of health benefits when consumed.

Aloe vera gel is famously known for its anthraquinones, aloin and emodin, known anti-bacterial, antiviral and analgesics that heal wounds, cleanse the GI tract and help treat skin conditions such as burns.

The gel of aloe vera is rich in a number of enzymes that alone and together help improve absorption of food and immune response.

Aloe Vera Gel for Skin & Hair

Aloe vera gel is helpful in allergic reactions, in cases of eczema, in burns, wounds, psorias and sunburn.

Aloe vera gel is efficacious in treating acne since it contains aloin and other antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compounds.

Aloe vera gel is one of the best rubefacents, anti-biotics, anti-microbial, anti-fungal and antiviral agents for topical applications since it contains salicylic acid, cinnamic acid, Sulphur, lupeol, phenol and urea nitrogen.

Aloe Vera Gel & Other Forms of Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera belongs to the succulent species and has short thick, juice filled succulent leaves. The edges are serrated with tiny teeth. The botanical name is aloe barbadensis and it has many sub-species, with the plant found widely in Africa, Asia and other parts of the world. It belongs to the same family as lily, onions and garlic. Aloe has been known to man since 5000 years and has been used therapeutically, internally and externally in a variety of ailments and diseases.

For practical purposes juice is extracted from the inner gel of the leaves. Aloe vera extract contains over 200 active compounds including polysaccharides, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids. It has active phytochemicals such as mannans, polymannans, anthraquinone, anthrones, anthraquinones lectin and emodin and C-glycosides chiefly responsible for curative and restorative properties.

The gel extracted from the inside of the plant leaves is used for cosmetics, as medicine, as skin lotion, in beverages and in desserts. The best way to use aloe vera is to harvest fresh leaves, peel off the outer skin and use only the inner gel that can be crushed to extract the juice. This can be done at home. Commercial processors machine strip rinds, crush pulp and extract juice. Some processors crush the whole leaf and extract the juice, removing fibrous parts and aloe latex by filtration. Some manufacturers use only the inner gel portion. Before you use the aloe product, check to see if it is a whole leaf extract that can contain aloe latex or only the inner gel. Aloe extracts that include the mucilaginous polysaccharides are not effective and can cause adverse reactions such as cramps and diarrhea when consumed.

Aloe extract is available as a liquid or as a gel.

Only the gel has the maximum of beneficial compounds and should be used for internal consumption.

Gel form is more concentrated and effective.

Modern producers also offer freeze dried aloe vera concentrate.

Again you get either the gel or extract of the entire leaf. 30 litres of freeze dried gel turns into 30 grams of freeze dried aloe vera extract powder, very potent and powerful.

Commercial diluted gel extracts may have low molecular weights of 150000 daltons, making them quite less effective.

The best and most potent form of aloe vera is freeze dried powder if you must buy it.

Of course, nothing matches the benefits of using fresh aloe leaf and carefully using only the central gel, something that is not possible for everyone.

The central gel is antioxidant, balances blood sugar, reduces inflammation, supplies all vitamins, minerals and amino acids and boosts immune system to the point where it can reverse some symptoms.

Pure, undiluted extract of only the inner gel has been found to be better when it comes to bioavailability of Vitamins C and E, according to research studies.

If you are buying commercially prepared supplements in the form of powders, pills, liquid or gel, another factor that influences potency is the way aloe vera is cultivated. Organically grown aloe vera, harvested at the right time after 3 years, is the best source of the most potent compounds.

Additionally, if the leaf has been hand filleted to remove central gel and process it alone instead of processing whole leaf and then filtering it out, the resulting composition is purer and more potent. When you buy aloe vera preparations, know about how the company harvested and processed aloe vera to be sure about its efficacy.

Another factor affecting potency of the aloe vera preparation is how quickly the gel is processed after harvesting and the stabilization method employed. Some companies will heat the gel and this inevitably destroys fragile compounds like vitamins. The best process is cold stabilization with minimum of additives.

Yet another important factor is concentration. If the gel or liquid you buy has less than 85% concentration, it is of little use. Again, the compounds must be active. Dried tablets or solutions that have been boiled will have lost much of the efficacious properties of aloe vera.

11 Precautions for Aloe Vera Gel

The best and most potent form of aloe vera is the fresh gel consumed within minutes of cutting the leaf and scooping out the inner portion.

Avoid whole leaf aloe vera juice because the skin is toxic, may cause diarrhea and if processing involves filtration, the process removes nutritious components as well.

Aloe vera that has been boiled to concentrate destroys many of the nutritious vitamins and compounds.

Tablets, powders and capsules are not effective as drying destroys its beneficial properties and does not help in proper absorption.

Concentrates are made by drying aloe vera and reconstituting by adding some water. The natural water is lost and this reduces benefits you hoped to get.

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All the tips mentioned here are strictly informational. This site does not provide any medical or health or beauty advice. Consult with your doctor or other health care provider before using any of these tips or treatments. Copyright 2014 Gharelu Nuskhe